Voicing M&H BB

[Tom Servinsky]

Did you also notice how far the staples on the shoulders go in?
(chuckle...)Simply window dressing on this vintage.
As David Love point out this vintage is not one to take bragging rights by
any stretch, but the critical role the hammer plays in this scale can affect
the outcome tremendously. Thus the current status of sound is lifeless...you
call it mellow, as do many.
I could point to a lot of other problems in these instruments..but that
being said, with a good set of hammers you can end up with a darn good
sounding instrument. Not as tremendous as a real Mason and Hamlin but still
a good sound.
This is where good salesmanship comes into our work. The ability to sell
what needs to be  done, even when faced with the "brick wall" of management.
Tom Servinsky,RPT
----- Original Message -----
From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2001 10:29 PM
Subject: Re: Voicing M&H BB


> > Do these have the pretty green shoulder felt?
>
> You bet! Kind of a cross between a lovely emerald green and Caribean sea
> green. I'll bet they would make very stylish ornaments for the Christmas
> tree!
>
> Junk hammers? I'll buy that. But why the HUGE change in tone across the
> break? I would think that if all the hammers are whatever grade of junk,
> then this must go way beyond hammers only.
>
> Del or Ron? Any input from a belly/scaling perspective?
>
> Terry Farrell
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tom Servinsky" <tompiano@gate.net>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2001 9:57 PM
> Subject: Re: Voicing M&H BB
>
>
> > Terry,
> > Before you get too far into trying to figure the missing link, don't
look
> > any further than the hammers.  The hammers on those pianos through those
> > years were a waste. There is no sustenance to drive any amount of tone.
> Do
> > these have the pretty green shoulder felt? I can assure you if can talk
> them
> > into replacing the hammers with a good quality hammer ( Abel or IssacI)
> > you'll be amazed what can happen.  I did a BB a couple of years ago with
> the
> > same situation. Ended up voicing the hammers way on the mellow sound but
> > what a huge sound I ended up with. Nice dynamic range. But when I look
> back
> > at those early years trying to salvage parts for the sake of salvaging
bad
> > parts, I didn't do anyone any service.
> > Good Luck
> > Tom Servinsky,RPT
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>
> > To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> > Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2001 9:13 PM
> > Subject: Voicing M&H BB
> >
> >
> > > Hello Listees. I tuned a 1979 Mason & Hamlin BB (Hand Crafted by
> American
> > > Craftmen) today at a small low (like, really low) budget recording
> studio.
> > > The young fellow (very enthusiastic) there was very interested in
> > improving
> > > his prized piano. The voicing is horrible. His general comments were
> that
> > > the bass is excellent and the rest of the piano is too "dark", and "it
> > > doesn't sound like a Yamaha - will replacing the strings make it
> > > brighter?" - he wants it brighter. My observations were that the bass
is
> > > very bright and brassy and loud and powerful. That drops right off
with
> > the
> > > lowest tenor note - very mellow and quiet - as is the rest of the
> piano -
> > > except for occassional tinny-bright notes in tenor and treble. The
piano
> > is
> > > in average shape over-all - it was in a church prior to this guy
buying
> it
> > 4
> > > years ago (for $4,800).
> > >
> > > Anyway, to please this guy, the task is to brighten up all the plain
> wire
> > > sections in general, even out the few odd balls, and do something with
> the
> > > bass tenor break - it's worse than most spinets (is this common on
this
> > > piano?). It has the little green hammers that M&H (Aeolian) used back
in
> > the
> > > 60s and 70s (always used???).
> > >
> > > I have not done much voicing. I have steamed a fair little bit. I have
> > stuck
> > > a few hammers with needles with generally acceptable results. I have
> never
> > > tried to make hammers brighter. I have a lot of written material
> > describing
> > > how to apply hammer hardener (laquer, etc.). What I am asking here is
> for
> > > some input on direction. Is a liquid hardener the way to start, etc.,
> > etc.?
> > > Any thoughts are welcome.
> > >
> > > I'm not afraid to put a soundboard in a piano, but voicing scares me -
I
> > > can't hold it in my hand, I can't measure it, I can't cut it, I can't
> glue
> > > it!
> > >
> > > Terry Farrell
> > >
> > >
> >
>